Mayor to be investigated over Green comments

BORIS Johnson is to be formally investigated over his role in the Damian Green affair, the Evening Standard has learned.

The Mayor has been accused of prejudging the outcome of the police investigation into the Tory MP by revealing he had "a hunch" he would face no charges.

Today it is understood a sub-committee of the London Assembly's standards board decided the matter should be investigated by both the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Greater London Authority and has been referred to the respective monitoring officers.

The original complaint came from Labour Party leader Len Duvall who claimed Mr Johnson, who was speaking in his capacity as head of the Metropolitan Police Authority, had "potentially corrupted" the investigation.

Mr Johnson also admitted he had spoken to Mr Green, an old friend and former colleague, since his arrest in the Home Office leaks inquiry.

Members of today's committee could have also ruled no further action be taken, asked for additional information, or referred the matter directly to the Standards Board of England. If upheld, the matter could lead to his suspension or even removal as Mayor of London.

A Labour spokesman said: "We believe that Boris Johnson has got a clear case to answer for and don't see why the same rules shouldn't apply to the Mayor as to everyone else."

Mr Johnson has denied any wrongdoing and has justified his remarks by insisting he had no knowledge of sensitive operational details of the case. He also claimed not to have any knowledge of the outcome of today's meeting

Both an MPA and a GLA spokesman said they could neither confirm nor deny the committee's decision until a formal decision notice had been released.